When we read the scriptures on the account of the Sunday morning after the raising of Christ, we might think that the scriptures conflict. BUT DO THEY? We must look carefully into the word of God and then we will see that the Bible does not contradict itself.

Let’s study into subjects which at first glance might seem to be quite hard, but if we pray about it the true meaning becomes clear.

Let’s notice the accounts from the four gospels, regarding early the first day of the week.

The following scripture is the first thing that happened. Notice the women came only to see the tomb, and notice that they witnessed the stone being rolled away. This is Mary Magdalene No. 1 {there are several Mary Magdalenes}. It is important to notice the time each group arrived at the tomb, and where the groups then went. These ladies after seeing the angel and the empty tomb, were told Christ had risen, so with fear and great joy they ran to bring His disciples word.

Mat 28:1  Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.

Mat 28:2  And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it.

Mat 28:3  His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.

Mat 28:4  And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.

Mat 28:5  But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.

Mat 28:6  He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

Mat 28:7  And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.”

Mat 28:8  So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word.

These two ladies were going to Galilee, no doubt there were many disciples in that area, they were told “He is going before you into Galilee there you will see Him. So no doubt, after telling the disciples the news about Jesus, they headed off to see Him.

The next group to arrive were the ladies from Galilee who brought spices, there is no time stated in the Bible as to when they arrived only that it was very early in the morning. This is Mary Magdalene No. 2. These ladies saw two angels and were told He is risen. The angels reminded them what Christ had said to them in Galilee, and they remembered. They returned from the tomb, and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest.

Luk 24:1  Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared.

Luk 24:2  But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb.

Luk 24:3  Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.

Luk 24:4  And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments.

Luk 24:5  Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?

Luk 24:6  He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee,

Luk 24:7  saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’ ”

Luk 24:8  And they remembered His words.

Luk 24:9  Then they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest.

The women from Galilee are named.

Luk 24:10  It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them, who told these things to the apostles.

Luk 24:11  And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them.

Luk 24:22  Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us.

Luk 24:23  When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive.

As we stated earlier it is important to notice where the ladies went after visiting the tomb. These ladies went to the eleven and all the rest.

The ladies from Galilee had astonished the apostles with their news of Jesus and their vision of angels. Even though there was disbelief Peter and the disciple that Jesus loved decided they should go to the tomb and see if this wonderful news was true.

Next we see before sunrise, Sunday morning, while it is still dark possibly around 5 AM. Notice that the stone has now been taken away. Mary Magdalene No. 3 arrived.

Joh 20:1  Now the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.

When Mary Magdalene No. 3 ran to where the apostles were, she met up with Simon Peter and the disciple that Jesus loved as they headed to the tomb.

Joh 20:2  Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.”

Joh 20:3  Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb.

Joh 20:4  So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first.

Joh 20:5  And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in.

Joh 20:6  Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there,

Joh 20:7  and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself.

Joh 20:8  Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed.

Joh 20:9  For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead.

Joh 20:10  Then the disciples went away again to their own homes.

Simon Peter and the disciple that Jesus loved did not see any angels.

Simon Peter and the disciple that Jesus loved left and went to their homes but Mary Magdalene No. 3 stayed at the tomb.

Mary, weeping, looked into the tomb and saw two angels, she later saw Christ in keeping with the scriptures in Mark.

Mar 16:9  Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons.

Joh 20:11  But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb.

Joh 20:12  And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.

Joh 20:13  Then they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.”

Joh 20:14  Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus.

Joh 20:15  Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.”

Joh 20:16  Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher).

Joh 20:17  Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’ ”

Joh 20:18  Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her.

Now we see the final group arrive at the tomb, they bought spices to anoint Christ. The time setting is now around 6 AM because it is after sunrise. This is Mary Magdalene No. 4.

Mar 16:1  Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him.

Mar 16:2  Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen.

Mar 16:3  And they said among themselves, “Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?”

Mar 16:4  But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away—for it was very large.

Mar 16:5  And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed.

Mar 16:6  But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him.

Mar 16:7  But go, tell His disciples—and Peter—that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you.”

Mar 16:8  So they went out quickly and fled from the tomb, for they trembled and were amazed. And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

It appears that the women were too frightened to tell anyone what had happened and they fled.

We now return to Mary Magdalene No. 3. Now that she had seen Jesus, she returned to tell the brethren the wonderful news saying Christ said to say I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God. Those who had been with Him mourned and wept. The brethren did not believe what Mary Magdalene No. 3 had said.

Mar 16:9  Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons.

Mar 16:10  She went and told those who had been with Him, as they mourned and wept.

Mar 16:11  And when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe.

Then after appearing to Mary Magdalene No. 3, Christ then appeared to the first group of ladies who were at the tomb, as they made their way towards Galilee to tell the disciples that He had risen and was going before them to Galilee.

Mat 28:9  And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him.

Summary of events.

1^st Group Mary Magdalene No. 1

The first group of women to come to the tomb were the ladies who came before the stone was rolled away, they witnessed the earthquake. One angel sat on the stone, these women were Mary Magdalene and the other Mary. The ladies are told to come and see where Christ lay. Then they were told to go quickly and tell the disciples. After telling the disciples, these ladies were going to Gailee because Christ told them He was going there before them and they would see Him there.

There was probably some distance between the tomb and where the disciples were because Jesus appeared to them on the way and they touched Him. Possibly one hour from tomb to where the disciples were. In order for these ladies to touch Christ it was after He had ascended to the Father and returned to earth.

2^nd Group Mary Magdalene No. 2

Women of Galilee and other women, came to the tomb, the time of their arrival is not stated in the scriptures, but it was very early in the morning, the stone was rolled away, they entered the tomb, and two angels spoke to them, the angels told them Jesus had risen, the angels also reminded them of things Christ had told them when He was in Galilee. The ladies told the apostles and others these things, it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna and Mary the mother of James and others that told the apostles these things.

3^rd Group Mary Magdalene No. 3 by herself.

Mary Magdalene arrived at the tomb, while it was still dark, the stone was rolled away, she saw the tomb was empty and then she ran and met Peter and the disciple Jesus loved. The three of them returned to the tomb, and confirmed Christ was not there, Peter and the disciple Jesus loved left, but Mary stayed on. She went into the tomb and saw two angels, then she saw Jesus, He told her not to touch Him. She then went to the brethren and the disciples, and told them that she had seen the Lord and then she told them what Jesus said to her. She told them that Jesus said I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.

4^th Group Mary Magdalene No. 4

Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Salome came to the tomb after sunrise when they got there the stone was already rolled away, so they were the last group to arrive. They saw a young man in white clothes in the tomb, he told them to tell the disciples and Peter that Christ was risen and He would see them on the way to Galilee, but this group were frightened and ran away and did not tell anyone anything.

Now we put the 4 groups in time sequence.

The first group to the tomb was group 1, they arrived and saw the earthquake saw the stone being rolled away by the angel. It was Mary Magdalene No.1 and the other Mary they left the tomb and ran to tell the disciples.

After they left, the second group to arrive at the tomb was, Mary Magdalene No 2 Joanna and Mary the mother of James and others, the ladies from Galilee. The time is not stated but it was very early in the morning. They told the apostles and the others, as there were many who followed Him aside from the apostles. Followers of Christ were called disciples.

The next to arrive at the tomb was Mary Magdalene No. 3 on her own. She arrived while it was still dark, the stone was rolled away, she discovered the tomb was empty and she ran and met Peter and the disciple that Jesus loved. The three returned to the tomb, and Peter and the disciple who Jesus loved, saw the tomb was empty and left. Mary remained and Christ appeared first to her. She was not to touch Him as He had not yet ascended to the Father.

The next group to arrive was Mary Magdalene No. 4 Mary the mother of James and Salome, they arrived after sunrise, they were told to tell the disciples and Peter, but they were too frightened and ran away and kept silent about these events.

Perhaps many readers have been puzzled by the events on Sunday morning after Christ had risen from the dead. These events have now been explained so the reader can see what actually happened early the first day of the week.

After these events, Jesus went on to appear to many during the 40 days He was with them leading up to Pentecost.

Act 1:3  to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.